The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that TechWorks Marine has deployed four trawl-resistant, bottom-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) frames throughout Lough Swilly. The frames deployed on Wednesday 20 February will be on the seafloor for a…

Stanley Tomkins, treasurer for the Kilkeel RNLI volunteer crew, is to retire after 25 years’ service at the Co Down lifeboat station. Tomkins, a retired bank manager, was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for his charitable work in the…

#Lifeboats - Youghal RNLI were honoured to receive two generous donations from members of the community in one day recently. On Saturday 16 February, the East Cork lifeboat station welcomed sisters Aisling and Leanne Hehir who recently celebrated their birthdays,…

Irish Coast Guard staff have been ordered to cease their use of blue lights and sirens with their road vehicles when travelling to incidents, as TheJournal.ie reports. The new directive says risks associated with the use of so-called ‘blues and…

#Lifeboats - It was a different kind of ‘surf and turf’ when three teenagers and a horse were rescued in two separate callouts by Kinsale's RNLI volunteers yesterday (Sunday 17 February). Late in the afternoon the lifeboat launched following reports…

Thirty years ago, on February 13th 1989, the volunteer crew of Portrush RNLI Lifeboat launched in dreadful conditions to reports of two Spanish trawlers in difficulty. This was when the famous Portrush picture was taken by photographer Ian Watson. Crew…

#Lifeboats - As noted by Tom MacSweeney in his latest podcast, Wicklow is the last RNLI station with a Tyne class lifeboat in service. Before the current Tyne lifeboat Annie Blaker is officially taken off service later this year, it will be…

When Baltimore Lifeboat Station in West Cork was established the First World War was raging in Europe. That was back in 1915 when the original station was built, but due to the War no lifeboat arrived in Baltimore until 1919…

The “All In A Row 2018” event on the capital’s River Liffey was supported by teams rowing 40 boats including skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000km in eight hours, raising €12,000 for these charities. Starting from St.…

Waves as high as two buses battered a Russian vessel off Dingle yesterday (Friday 8 February) as the Irish Coast Guard launched a double rescue during Storm Erik. BreakingNews.ie reports on comments made by coastguard divisional controller Derek Flanagan regarding…

In light of the severe Weather Warning issued by Met Éireann for Friday 8th February, the Coast Guard is calling on the general public and all Mariners to heed the warnings and take appropriate action. The Coast Guard is asking…

#Lifeboats - RNLI volunteers at Lough Ree have launched their sixth Lap of Lough Ree charity cycle which will take place this year on Sunday 28 April. The annual 85km cycle raising funds for the lifesaving service in Athlone will…

Two crew members with suspected head injuries were airlifted from a fishing vessel off Dingle yesterday (Tuesday 29 January), as the Irish Examiner reports. The Irish Coast Guard’s Shannon-based helicopter Rescue 115 was tasked to the scene some 60 nautical…

The crew of Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat put to sea on Sunday (27 January ) morning for their fortnightly exercise and also to lay a floral tribute on behalf of the Sir Samuel Kelly Project. The volunteer crew paid their respects…

#Lifeboats - Dun Laoghaire RNLI responded to a stand-up paddle boarder who got into difficulty between Bray Head and Greystones yesterday afternoon (Sunday 27 January). The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 12.03pm and were on…

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Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.